Industrial athletic trainer, explained.

Industrial Athletic Trainers: An Introduction

Industrial athletic training is an often-forgotten job setting for athletic trainers. Working in a different field from the ‘traditional’ athletic trainer and sports team image, the industrial setting has different challenges and rewards. It can be a great career path for athletic trainers, so today the Go4 team are taking a closer look at this job opportunity.

What Do Industrial Athletic Trainers Do?

When you talk about athletic training jobs, you often picture the medical pro working with college or professional athletic teams. Industrial athletic trainer jobs will take you into occupational health settings instead. You will be responsible for developing and implementing injury prevention/reduction programs, aiding with return-to-work programs, and keeping company productivity high. You keep employees fit and working at full capacity, and even play a role in keeping health care and insurance costs low.

How To Become An Industrial Athletic Trainer?

Industrial athletic training is not the easiest field to become skilled in, but can be a very rewarding one. However, more companies such as Amazon and the USPS are hiring industrial athletic trainers for their workforce. Let’s take a look at what it takes to become one.

Education Requirements For Industrial Athletic Trainers

As with all athletic trainer jobs, you need a minimum of your 4-year Bachelor’s to work as an industrial athletic trainer. However, nationwide program change is underway. It will soon be mandatory to have a Master’s degree to work as a certified athletic trainer, so keep that in mind when planning your career.

Accreditation Requirements For Industrial Athletic Trainers

Once you have completed your education, you will need to pursue certification via your exam with the BOC, or Board of Certification, before you can get hired as an athletic trainer. All states (except for California) will require you to obtain a state license to practice as well, so be sure to research the requirements depending on where you plan to work.

How Much Do Industrial Athletic Trainers Make?

Industrial athletic trainer salaries can vary hugely, depending on the precise job and industry you enter. However, the most current data suggests between $36,500 and $52,200, venturing as high as into the $70,000 range for specific instances.

Pros & Cons To Being An Industrial Athletic Trainer

Now you know how much industrial athletic trainers make, is the field right for you? Every job has its pros and cons. What can you expect as an industrial trainer?

Advantages To Being An Industrial Athletic Trainer

If you’re looking to break away from the traditional sports-dominated idea of an athletic trainer, but bring that same care and compassion into your new role, industrial athletic training could be right for you. What unique advantages  does it have? Let’s take a look.

Advantage #1 – Stable Hours

Unlike college athletic trainers, who often have to travel with the team or adapt to game hours during the season, you’re likely to have steady working schedule as an industrial athletic trainer. This doesn’t mean that night, weekend, or overtime work is off the table, but it can make living around your job easier.

Advantage #2 – Injury Education

Many industrial athletic trainers love the fact that they are actively involved in injury prevention and education programs. You get to help people stay fitter and stronger on the job. They create a better life based on your advice.

Advantage #3 – Industry Growth

You are unlikely to ever be out of work as an industrial athletic trainer. While the entire field is growing, industrial athletic training, in particular, is growing at a rapid rate. More and more businesses are investing in their staff through prevention programs, so you will be at the cutting edge of career development.

Disadvantages To Being An Industrial Athletic Trainer

Of course, no job is free of its downside, either. What key disadvantages exist to being an industrial athletic trainer?

Disadvantage #1 – Long Hours

Industrial athletic trainers may face long hours at work. Perhaps you need to come in early to help a client with preventative taping before a presentation. Perhaps you have to work late to develop new protocols with the management team. While it can be immensely fulfilling work, it’s not easy. 

Disadvantage #2 – High-stress Environment 

Workplace injuries can be severe, and you will be responsible for the literal wellbeing of your workers. From mediating between worker, family, and company, to deciding how best to treat your patient, it is a high-stress environment. Rewarding? Yes. But it’s not easy.

Disadvantage #3 – Regulated

Most industrial athletic trainers working today will find they are required to work under OSHA rules and regulations. While that’s not always a bad thing, it can feel limiting compared to the freedom in a sport-focused athletic trainer career.

Get Hired With Go4

Are you a working athletic trainer looking to find on-demand jobs? Then Go4 is the platform for you. If you’re not yet sure that the high school environment is right for you, per diem work is a great way to try out the field and see if it’s a good match. Or explore the many other rewarding athletic trainer positions we have on the platform. It couldn’t be easier, either- simply register, upload proof of your certifications, and find your next job today.

GET HIRED NOW! Go4 is a nationwide app/platform that connects teams and organizations with per diem Athletic Trainers for games, practices, camps, clinics, and tournaments.

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